How to choose the right garden pruner

What is it used for

Pruning trees and shrubs growing on personal plots makes it possible to regulate their growth, form a crown of optimal sizes and thickening, which allows you to achieve high yields and comfortable picking of fruits. Also, this operation contributes to the emergence of young growth and the rejuvenation of old plants. To carry out pruning correctly and efficiently, the most ergonomic and comfortable tool is a garden pruner.

Depending on the type of tool, it can be used to quickly and conveniently trim branches of the crown of young trees, as well as decorative and fruit shrubs to give it the desired shape. Pruners are also used for adjusting pruning, which is carried out to ensure good illumination of all sections of the crown. With their help, small and weak branches are removed, thinning the plant. Dead and infertile branches are also cut off with secateurs. In addition, this tool is used to prune the vine, with its help, the roots are shortened and cuttings are cut.

Modern garden pruners differ in size and design. They are able to make a high-quality cut, removing branches up to 3 centimeters thick. This is a better option than using a fine-toothed hacksaw as it damages the wood quite often.

Tool options

The ergonomics of the pruning shears best suits its main purpose. The design of the cutting mechanism of the tool assumes two options for the blades. In a double-sided pruner, both blades are the cutting workers. Such tools are called garden shears for the similarity of the principle of operation. They are characterized by an even and precise cut, but they strongly squeeze dense plant tissues. Therefore, these pruning shears are best used for pruning young shoots up to 2 centimeters thick, flower and grass stems, or dead branches.

In a one-sided or standard bypass pruner, only one convex blade is working, and the second plays the role of a stop shifted relative to it. When cutting, the upper blade slides along the lower one. To make the cut correctly, the stop must be on the side of the fragment to be removed, then only the separated part of the branch will be deformed.

A variant of a one-sided pruner is a tool with an anvil, in which the blades are not displaced relative to each other, but are on the same line and the lower support is rather wide and ribbed. Such a pruner does not cut branches of trees and bushes, but actually cuts like a guillotine. This tool is able to effectively cut dry branches up to 3 centimeters thick.

Expensive models are equipped with a ratchet mechanism, which allows you to cut wood in several stages, while ensuring a high quality cut. This garden tool is made of titanium alloy and allows you to cut branches 2.5-3 centimeters thick with little effort.

Mechanical pruning shears come in different lengths and cover materials. Long-handled tools allow you to use less force when cutting thick branches and remove them at higher heights without the need for additional equipment, but these garden pruners are less maneuverable and are more heavy.

For the cheapest models, the handles are simply painted. The more expensive ones are covered with rubberized or polymer materials. Also, for their manufacture, a special composite material can be used, which surpasses steel in strength and at the same time is lighter in weight than aluminum.

In addition to mechanical tools directly using human muscular efforts, electric models of secateurs have been developed. They can use both rechargeable batteries and a cable connection as an electrical power source. Structurally, cordless garden shears are a variant of the bypass pruner. Their working blade is activated by gentle pressing on a small lever.

The corded electric shears are designed for decorative pruning of trees or hedges. They can also be used successfully for trimming shrubs or cutting grass in areas that are difficult for a lawnmower or trimmer to reach. Among other things, such a garden tool is used to create various decorative figures from plants.

Cordless electric shears are relatively light and are characterized by a good balance of the center of gravity, which allows even with a cutting tool length of 70 centimeters to work without much effort. With their help, it is easy to cut off both young shoots and old branches.

Video “What to look for”

How to choose the best

A modern garden pruner, regardless of the model, is obliged in any case to provide an even cut that does not injure the plant without torn edges. Pruning even relatively thick branches using it should be done without much effort. At the same time, the tool must be reliable and durable. Most often, a bypass pruner is chosen for the garden, which is used as a universal one for pruning branches of any type.

The high carbon steel pruning shear blade has excellent hardness and holds the edge best when working. However, such steel rusts rather quickly, so it definitely needs a protective nickel-plated or chrome-plated coating. Recently, Teflon coating has become popular. Stainless steel blades are much more resistant to rust, but have a lower cutting performance.

Comfort of work is also determined by the handles, which should provide a comfortable hold of the tool during operation. If it is supposed to work for a long time, then it is better to give preference to a soft, non-slip, rough material. For short-term work, the option of smooth plastic with grooves for fingers is enough.

Today on the market there is a fairly large selection of models of garden tools of different types and brands. If we consider the rating of mechanical secateurs, then it will be topped by a number of well-known brands. The most common are the reliable and durable Swiss Felco secateurs, which are popular among both amateurs and professionals. Among the latter, the Swedish brand Bacho is also especially appreciated, famous for its convenient professional tool. The German brands Gardena and Raco have proven themselves to be a worthy tool for pruning trees and shrubs on private backyards.

The leader in usability is the lightweight Finnish Fiskars secateurs. Fiskars tools are distinguished by high productivity and quality of both workmanship and work. The brand has two lines: the one dedicated to floriculture Inspiration and the more versatile PowerStep, whose tools are the best choice for pruning hard and thick branches.

Recently, Samurai models have become increasingly popular. This is a high-tech instrument created by the Japanese company Kanzawa Seiko. The Samurai pruner is made of high-carbon steel with a Teflon protective coating. This tool is ideal for pruning live branches and grassy stems. Models of the Samurai brand fit comfortably in the hand and provide an even, clean cut. The range includes ratchet tools. But at the same time, the Samurai pruner is somewhat heavy for a woman's hand.

The popularity rating among the battery models presented on our market is headed by the Gardena electric scissors. Also in demand among gardeners are tools of the brands Bosch, Makita, Ryobi, etc. For long-term and frequent use, the French professional Bahco electric scissors are most often purchased.

Among the network models, the rating is topped by Stihl products. Produced under this brand Electric shears are widely used by utility workers, professional landscape designers and home gardeners. The Efco and Black & Decker tools also performed well.

Quality pruner criteria

One of the main features of a good pruner is the use of high quality chrome-plated or Teflon-coated steel in its manufacture. It should also be quite easy to disassemble to sharpen the blades.

The bypass pruner should not have a gap between the working blade and the stop, otherwise it will crush tree branches and plant stems, rather than cut. There is a fairly popular option for checking with a sheet of paper, which should be cut without creasing. However, in this case, it should be borne in mind that such a test does not always guarantee the best choice. Quite often, a Fiskars or Raco pruner that does not cut paper well will cut branches very well.

Good pruning shears have handles made of fiberglass-reinforced polyamide, making them ergonomic, reliable and durable. Springs for a quality belt-type mechanical tool. In case of working on a ladder, he should have a safety strap to attach to his wrist.

In order not to become a victim of fraudsters and not to buy a fake when purchasing electric scissors, you should use the services of reputable shopping centers or online stores.

Video "Choosing a garden pruner"

In order to choose the right representative of this category of garden tools, we recommend watching the following video. Useful tips, selection criteria and much more - only here.